Sink retaining means



Nov. 14, 1961 G. A. YoN, JR., ETAL SINK RETAINING MEANS Filed DGO. 24, 1958 El L 2 a f m ,a a 2 a M 2M M d a @www ware

Filed Dec. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 782,825 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-187) Unite The present invention relates generally to a sink structure and more particularly to a new and improved technique for connecting a sink to a supporting structure such as a counter to prevent relative movement between the sink and the supporting structure.

It is well known that there is a great deal of competition between sink manufacturers to provide an improved sink construction of a type which will afford the manufacturer a competitive advantage over his competitors. Recently considerable emphasis has been placed upon providing means on the sink so that the sink may be more readily assembled with a counter structure. Formerly the installation of a sink required considerable skill since former techniques were both tedious and extremely dicuit to accomplish.

According to the general features of the present invention, new and improved means are disclosed herein for attaching a sink to a supporting structure such as a kitchen counter.

According to certain more specific features of the present invention fastener structures are preassembled by the sink manufacturer on the sink so that when the sink leaves the factory it is ready for instantaneous assembly with a counter structure in a home merely by the rotation of a series of screws projecting downwardly from the underside of the sink. The installer only need lower the sink through the opening defined by the counter structure and then rotate the screws from underneath the sink to tightly clamp the sink in assembly with the counter structure.

According to certain other specific features of the present invention channel type rails may be preassembled by the sink manufacture on the sink each of which is adapted to slidingly receive and carry a fastener structure so that when the sink leaves the factory it is ready for instantaneous assembly with a counter structure in a home.

More particularly, the present invention concerns new and improved highly simplified fastener structures for clamping the outer margin of the sink to the counter. Each of the different types of herein disclosed fastener structures is merely comprised of three elements including a swingable arm, a stove bolt, and an arm guide which is adapted for attachment to the underside of the marginal flange structure of the sink.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide new and improved fastener structures enabling speedy installation of -a sink with a counter structure with a minimum of effort.

Still another important object of the present invention relates to fastener structures which may be readily manufactured with a minimum of material and labor expense.

A further object of the present invention relates to new and improved fastener structures which may be readily secured to the underside of a sink by the sink manufacturer.

An important feature of the present invention relatesv to a fastener structure having a swingable arm which is swingable into and out of underlying relation with respect to a counter merely by the rotation of a bolt disposed at the underside of the counter and which swingable arm may be moved vertically to clamp the sink in assembly with the counter.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detcs Patent 3,008,l50 Patented Nov. 14, i961 tailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein several embodiments and in which:

FIGURE l is an enlarged isometric View of a fastener structure shown by itself;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the fastener structure mounted on a sink securing the sink to a counter;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line III-III looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, as seen in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan View of a sink structure illustrating other modified sink fastener structures;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially on the lines V-V of FIGURE 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail view of .the fastener structure shown in FIGURE 5.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 8 in FIGURE l indicates generally a sink structure which sink structure includes a counter 9 and a sink 10. The sink 10 is illustrated as a double-bowl type sink including bowls 11 and l2 which bowls are separated by a partition rib 13. The bowls 11 and 12 are provided with discharge outlets 11a and 12a.

The counter or supporting structure may be of any suitable type and as shown is of a laminated construction having a wood layer 9a and a heat-resistant synthetic plastic layer 9b. In accordance with present day practices lthe counter 9 is provided with a central opening 9c through which the sink 10 is adapted to be telescoped.

When the sink 10 is telescoped through the opening 9c the sink 10 rests upon the counter 9' by means of its marginal flange structure 14. The marginal flange structure 14 includes an annular-rounded flange portion 14a, a terminal flange portion 14b, and a counter-engaging edge 14C.

In FIGURES l, 2, and 3 is shown a fastener structure 25 which is adapted for assembly with the corresponding sink and counter previously described.

The fastener structure 25 includes an arm guide or tube-like element 26, a bolt 27, and a swingable arm 28. The swingable arm is adapted to circumferentially rotate into and out of underlying relation with respect to the counter 9 so as to readily permit the sink to be telescoped through the opening 9c, defined by the counter 9. The arm 28 may be rotated 90, as shown.

The arm guide 26 has an attachment element 26 welded at 26 (FIGURE l) to a folded extension 26a of the arm guide. The attachment elem-ent 26 includes stepped flanges 26a, 26b, and 26e with flanges 26a and 26C being adapted to be welded at 29 to the marginal flange 14 of the sink 10.

The arm guide 26 also includes a tubular portion 26e having a helical slot defined by spaced confronting edges 26g and 26h which edges are partially spiraled or curved to aid in the 90 rotation of the swingable arm 28.

The bolt 27 is again provided with an enlarged head portion 27a which is lodged within a recess 30 to prevent accidental displacement of the bolt relative to the other components of the fastener structure after the fastener structure has been welded in assembly with the sink 10. The bolt also has a shank portion extended through axially aligned openings in the flanges 26a and 26b and indicated generally at 27b with the shank portion 27b being centered generally with the axisI of the tubular portion 26e. In this respect it will be appreciated, that portion 28a which is turned at opposite ends 28h and 28C with the end or gripping extremity 28h being provided with teeth 28d which are `adapted for engagement with the underside of the counter 9. 'Ihe opposite end or skirt 28C of the radial arm flange portion 28a is under turned and rounded in a circumferential direction for slidable engagement with the inner or internal circular surface of the guide 26. Enlarged end 28a of the radial arm flange 28a is peripherally defined by the skirt 28C and they together correspond generally to the inside surface configuration of the tubular portion 26e o-f the arm guide 26.

After the sink 10 has been telescoped through the opening 9c a screw driver may be inserted into the slot 27C provided on the bolt 27 and upon rotation of the bollt the swingable arm will be contemporaneously moved circumferentially and axially relative to .the counter so that the gripping extremity of the swingable arm may be engaged with the underside of the counter to draw the edge 14o into snug engagement with the top side of the counter to prevent materials from seeping underneath the sink. The arm 28 may be disengaged from the counter by rotating the bolt 27 in an opposite direction or b-y a counter clockwise movement.

Shown in FIGURES 4, and 6 is another modified form of the present invention wherein the reference numeral 8 indicates generally a sink structure which sink structure includes a counter 9 and a lsink `40, the counter 9 is of an identical construction as the counter previously described. The sink itl is also illustrated as a doublebowl type sink including bowls 41 and 42 which bowls are separated by a partition rib 43. The bowls 41 and 42 are provided with discharge outlets 4ta and 42a.

The sink 40 is provided with a marginal flange structure which is similar to that shown with respect to the sink 10 previously described and which includes an annularrounded flange portion 44a, a terminal ange portion 44b, and a counter-engaging edge 44C.

Accordingly to still other features Aof the present invention, the sink is provided with `a series of fasteners or fastener structures 35 each of which include-s an arm guide or tube like element 36, a stove bolt 37 and a swingable arm 38.

The guide 3'6 is of a substantially identical construction as the guide 26 and the following description of the guide 36 will be substantially directed to the modified structural characteristics of the guide 36. The guide 36 is provided with integral attachment means indicated generally at 36. The attachment means 36 is provided with stepped flanges 36a, 36b, and 36C. The flange 36h constitutes an integral extension from a tubular portion 36e of the guide 36 since the attachment means 36 is folded at 36f relative to the tubular portion 36e.

The iianges 36a and 36e are both provided with vertically downwardly turned flange portions or runners 36d which provide means from which the fastener structure 36 may be suspended from the underside of the marginal flange structure 44 of the sink 40. A hanger bracket 39 is welded at 39 to the annular-rounded flange portion 44a which bracket 39 is preferably assembled With the sink by the sink manufacturer so that the sink may be shipped and sold in condition for immediate installation by the purchaser. The bracket 39 includes a base portion 39a and downwardly turned hooks or hook bracket portions 39h and 39C. When the fastener structure 36 is in assembly with the bracket 39, the runners 36b-3'6d are engaged with the hooks 39b and 39C as is shown in FIGURE 9.

The present fastener structure construction now makes it possible to readily attach and remove the fastener from the sink structure at lany time during the assembly of the sink structure with the counter structure. This assembly may be accomplished by aligning the runners 36d--36d with the hooks 39b and 39e and moving the runners longitudinally relative tto the hooks until the fastener structure 36 is suspended from the underside of the bracket 39. The operation of the fastener structure 36 is otherwise the same as the operation of the fastener structure 26 whereby the arm 38 may be moved into and out of underlying -relation with respect to the counter 9 so that the sink edge 44e may be clamped to the counter structure or so that the edge `44C may be released from clamped engagement with the counter structure 9.

Any suitable number of the fastener structures may be provided on the sink 10 and excelllent results may be attained where, for example, ten fastener structures are employed.

In view of the foregoing description it will now be appreciated how readily the instant sinks 1d' and 40 may be assembled with respect to the counter merely by utilizing a screw driver to turn the swingabile arm into underlying position with respect to the counter and then into engaged relation with the underside of the counter. Also, the sinks 10 and 40 may ybe readily removed from the counter by merely reversing the procedure. Still further, the simple construction of the instant fastener structure is of a type which readily enables the fastener structures to be manufactured at a low expense and on a large scale.

It will be understood that modifications and variations m-ay be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

l. Structure comprising `at least one tube-like element with means at oneend to secure the element to a member and to rotatably support a bolt extending within the element, the element having a helical slot in its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the wall.

2. Structure comprising at least one tube-like element with means at one end to secure .the element to a member and -to rotatably support -a bolt extending within the element, the element having a helical Slot in its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the wall, said means including an overlying bolt attachment {iange from which said bolt is suspended and extended within said tube-like `element.

3. Structure comprising at least one tube-like element with means at one end to secure the element to a member and to rotatably support a bolt extending within the element, the element having a helical slot in its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the wall, said means including a member attachment iiange including depending ilanges for attaching the tube-like element to a member.

4. Structure comprising -at least one tube-like element with means at one end to secure the element to a member and to rotatably support a bolt extending within the element, the element having a helical slot in its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the wall, said means including a member attachment ange including depending ilanges for attaching the tube-like element to a member, said depending flanges comprising runners, said means further including a hanger bracket having grooves in which said runners are engaged in slidable assembly therewith.

5. Structure comprising at least one tube-like element with means at one end to secure the element to a member and to rotatably support a bolt extending Within the element, the element having a helical slot lin its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the wall, the arm having an inner end slidably engaged within and backed up by the element for movement along the length of the bolt, the arm having an outer end provided with a biting edge extending gener-ally towards said means backed up by the sliding engagement of said inner end with the element.

6. Structure comprising at least one tube-like element With means at one end to secure the element to a member and to rotatably support a bolt extending within the element, the element having a helical slot in its wall and an arm threadediy mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the Wall, said arm being enlarged at its inner end relative to its opposite outer end and with the enlarged inner end corresponding generally to the cross-sectional conlguration of lthe tube-dike element and in sliding engagement within the element backing up the outer end.

7. In combination, a sink having an outer marginal flange structure for engagement on top of a counter and structure comprising at least one tube-like element with means at one end securing the element to an underside of said sink and to rotatably support a bolt extending Within the element, the element having a helical slot in its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the wall, the arm having an outer end for engagement with an underside of a counter for securing the sink including its outer marginal flange structure in clamped assembly with a counter.

8. In combination, a sink having yan outer marginal flange structure for engagement on top of a counter and structure comprising at least one tube-lil e element With means `at one end securing the element to an underside of said sink and to rotatably support a bolt extending within the element, the element having a helical slot in its wall and an arm threadedly mounted on the bolt and extending through the slot beyond the Wall, the arm having an outer end for engagement Wtih an underside of a counter for securing the sink including its outer marginal flange structure in clamped assembly with a counter, the arm having an inner end provided with an underlturned skirt slidingly engaged Within the element with the element providing back-up means for said outer end.

9. Means for securing a sink to a counter including a fastener structure having attachment structure for attachment to a sink, said fastener structure carrying a bolt which bolt extends toward said attachment structure and a svvingable arm threadably mounted on said bolt, the swingable arm having a biting edge at its outer end, a guide structure connected at one end with said attachment structure coaxially with said bolt and providing a guide slot through which said arm passes and with said arm extending beyond said guide slot positioning said biting edge radially outwardly of said bolt and said guide structure, said guide slot having a curvature so that the arm rotates along a longitudinal axis of the bolt and the guide structure.

References Cited in the le or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 258,997 `Crandal inne 6, 1882 855,195 Marr May 28, 1907 1,287,000 Greaves Dec. 10, 1918 1,826,817 Olley et al. Oct. 13, 1931 2,402,556 Judd .lune 25, 1946 2,486,670 Nigg et al Nov. l, 1949 2,599,207 Spahr et al. June 3, 1952 2,843,855 Hammer July 22, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Redi`Rim Domestic Engrg., August 1957, pp. 34, 35. 

